The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan expresses its regret over the unilateral statement of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation dated March 26, 2022, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

During a telephone conversation on March 25, Minister of Defense Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov and Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation General Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed. During the conversation, the Azerbaijani side stated that positions in the areas and places of deployment are being clarified.

"However, despite this, on the morning of March 26, members of illegal Armenian armed groups attempted to sabotage units of the Azerbaijani army. As a result of immediate measures, members of the illegal Armenian armed groups were forced to retreat.

The Ministry of Defense reports that Azerbaijan is committed to the tripartite statement of November 10, 2020 and has not violated any of its provisions.

We note with regret that, in accordance with paragraph 4 of this statement, the complete withdrawal of the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed formations from the territory of Azerbaijan has not yet been carried out. Therefore, it is Armenia, and not Azerbaijan, that violates the provisions of the statement," the ministry noted.

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan also stated that this statement by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation contradicts the essence of bilateral relations and the Declaration on Allied Cooperation signed between the two countries on February 22, 2022.

"There is no administrative-territorial unit called "Nagorno-Karabakh" on the territory of Azerbaijan. The village mentioned in the statement is not called Furukh, but Farrukh.

In connection with the above, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan asks the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to completely withdraw the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed formations from the territories of Azerbaijan recognized by the international community, not to describe in a distorted form the movement of the Azerbaijani armed forces within the sovereign territories of our country, not to use the term "Nagorno-Karabakh" and correctly name the territories of Azerbaijan," reported to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

Trend.az